Leather-stretching machine.



`NLL 701,838

.1. CALDWELL. LEATHER STRETCHING'MACHINE.

Patented-June I0, |902. 4

(Application'filed Jan. 6, 1902,)

(No Model.)

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35 in section on the line fr: of Fig. 1.

' NITED STATES PATENT EEICE;

JOHN CALDWELL, OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AssiGNoR rro W. s. NOTT AooMPANYoE.M1NNEAroL1s, MINNESOTA, Al CORPORATION OE MINNE- SOTA.

LEArHEa-s'raEToi-HNG MACHINE SPECIFICATION forming part of .LettersPatent No. 701,838, dated .Tune 10, 1902. Y

pplioationillled January 6,1902. Serial No. 88,575. (No model.)

' To' aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minne' apolis, county of Hennepin, and State of Min- 5nesota, have invented certain n ew and useful Improvements inLeatheraStretching Devices, of which the'following is a specification.

My invention relates to the clamps or devices nsed in connection withleather-stretchr ing "machines for holding the ends of the leatherduring the operation of stretching it andthe object of the presentinvention is iniprovementof the means for connecting suchleather-holders to the heads or other approt 5 priate parts of thestretching mechanism.

Stated more specifically, my improvements relate to the means for makingadjustable pivotal connection between the leather-holding device and thestretcher-head, and de-l scribed in a general way the improved devicesconsist of a leatherholder having a snitable stud on its rear portionand a coupling device provided with a laterally-elongated slot or acorresponding series of holes for reeg ceivling the holder-stud andmeans for adjustably connecting the `coupling device to the stretchingmechanism. Such improvements 'are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,

in Which- 3o Figure 1 is a plan Niew of a portion ofZ a stretcher headand frame equipped with my improved coupling devices. view oftheleather-holder and couplingdevice and shows aportion of thestretcher-head Fig. 3 is a detail of the coupling device viewed frombeneath, and Fig. 4' shows a modification of the latter device.

In the drawings the reference-number 1 desf 4o ignates one of the sidesof an ordinary rectangular stretcher-frame, and r2 its stationary' head,secured thereto by bolts or in any suitable way. l The portion of theapparatus containing tne stationary head is selected for 45 convenienceof illustration; but my improvements are applicable as well to theslidable head of the machine. u y

On the surface of the head (which may be ef wood) is secured a metalplate 3, extending 5o from side to side of the head and having a seriesof slots-1 a suitable distance apart and Fig. 2 is a side' extendingparallel with the Vframe sides 1in extending in vertical orsuitably-slanting direction.

The coupling device may consist of a plug or short metal body 6 ofproper size to enter a slot 4: and having on its side walls suitablenotches or irregularities 7 for engaging the irregularities of surfaceof the slot-walls to hold the plug lagainst movement along the slot whensubjected` to tension. On the upper surface ot' thevplug is placed aplate or other suitable body of metal 8, and the two members areconnected bya pivot 9, so that the plate may turn freely on the plug. iFor convenience in handling the device the plate Sis provided' Withahandle 510, Vwhichjmay be formed on the upper end of the pivot 9. `Theforward end ofthe plate 8 is preferably pro- .vided with' la' slot 11 oropening for making connection with a leather-holder, and the' ablyconcaved. toward the rear of the plate S-that is, indirection away fromthe leatherholder. The leather-holder selected for illustration isv ofthe clamp form, comprising Va base-plate V15? and an upper movablejawlf, the base member. having its tailiece 15 provided with a'pin orstud or'p ejection 16, adapted-v to enter the slot 11, and thereby'pivotallyconnect the holder to the coupling device and permit such pointoli connection tobe automatically varied in lateral directionand allowthe holder to swing freely under tension. 1

In the imodication-` shown in Fig. 4 aseries of lseparate holes 17 issubstituted for the single opening 11; but it is 'apparent that thisconstruction while permitting manual will not serve to effect automaticlateral adjustmentof the pivotal point 'of connection of the holderrelative to the coupling device.

In putting the devices to use, as illustrated.'

in Fig. 1, a series of the holders may be made to engage portions of theirregular end of a side or other division of leather 18 and the leatherand the hol ers placed on the stretcherhead, and the lio `ders may thenbe snces- 75 outer wall 12 of the slot or opening is prefer-` sivelyconnected to the head by inserting the plugs of the coupling devices atproper'points in the slots '4 to enable the holder-studs to enter theopenings in the coupling devices.-

The pivotal connection of the plates 8 to th'e plugs 6 enables them tobe turned laterally when necessary to proper position to engage theholder-studs and serve also thereafter to permit free swinging movementof the holderswith respect to the plug 6. v

I do not limit myselfto the specific means otal connectionto the holder.

Having described my invention, what' I claim is. Y i

1. The combination with a leather-holder having a projection in rear ofits leather-en'- gaging means, Vof a coupling device provided with meansfor making laterally-variable pivotal connectionv with said projection,and means for-adjustably and pivotally connecting the coupling device toa part of a stretching mechanism, substantially as set forth.

'2. The combination with a leather-.holder having a projection in rearof its leather-engaging means, of a coupling device having means formaking laterally-variable connection with said projection, and means forpivlotally and adjustably connecting the coupling device to a part of astretching mechanism, substantially as set forth. v

3.. The combination with a leather-holder having a projection in rear'ofits leather-engaging means, of a coupling device having a transverseslot convexed toward the leatherholder for mak-inglaterally-variable-pivotal connection with said projection, and meansfor adj ustably and -pivotally connecting the coupling device to a partof a stretching mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4'. The combination with a stretcher-head, of a series ofleather-holders having projections in rear of their leather-engagingmeans, Aa corresponding series of coupling devices having means formaking Alaterally-variable pivotal connection with said projections, andmeans for adj-ustably and pivotally connecting the coupling devices tothe stretcher-head, substantially as set forth.

5. The combinationwith a stretcher-head having guideways extendingparallel with the direction of tension of the machine, of a series ofleather-holders having ,projections in rear of their leather-engagingmeans, a corresponding series of coupling devices having 'means formaking laterally-variable pivotal i connection with said projections andprovided With-pivotally-connected bodies adapted to be adjustablyinserted and retained in said guideways, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have Vhereunto set my hand this 2d day ofJanuary, 1902.

WM. G. BRACKETT, P. I-I. GUNCKEL.l

